Wardley Shocks Parker with TKO
By Eddie Sanchez
Fabio Wardley shocked Joseph Parker with an 11th-round knockout on Saturday in a thrilling and punishing heavyweight battle at London’s O2 Arena.
Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KO) had Parker (36-4, 24 KO) reeling midway through the round, with the New Zealander visibly dazed and unable to defend himself, prompting referee Howard Foster to step in and stop the contest.
Wardley dropped to the canvas in exhaustion after securing the WBO interim title, a victory that now places him in a prime position for a potential clash with undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk.
The action was intense from the opening bell. Parker started well, working behind a sharp jab and appearing to hurt Wardley early. The Briton rebounded strongly in Round 2, landing several clean shots and seizing the momentum.
Both fighters traded heavy blows to head and body, with each refusing to back down — remarkable considering neither had hit the canvas before the late finish. Wardley’s powerful right hand, responsible for most of his previous knockouts, remained a constant threat throughout.
After being rattled by that right hand, Parker regrouped and boxed effectively, but Wardley refused to yield. By the halfway point, the bout was still up for grabs, Parker appeared to edge ahead before Wardley rallied back with damaging combinations.
Parker began Round 10 aggressively, but Wardley responded with another big right hand and pinned his opponent to the ropes, unleashing a barrage of punches before the bell offered Parker a brief reprieve.
Sensing the end, and with manager Michael Ofo urging him to finish the job, Wardley came out firing in the 11th. His relentless assault forced Foster’s intervention to end the fight.
After the bout, Wardley called out Usyk directly, while promoter Frank Warren confirmed that his next appearance will be for all four belts.
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